Golf: Kiwi trick-shot golfer Tania Tare to play in the New Zealand Women's Open

Tania Tare. Photo / YouTube

Kiwi trick-shot golfer Tania Tare will play in the New Zealand Women's Open.

Tare, a social media phenomenon with over 65,000 followers on Instagram and 20 million views on Facebook, has been doing the hard yards in pursuit of her LPGA Tour dream in the United States, and it is a dream come true for her to gain an invitation to play in the first LPGA in New Zealand.

The McKayson New Zealand Women's Open will be held at Windross Farm Golf Course in South Auckland from September 28 to October 1.

Tare came through the New Zealand Golf High Performance programme and earned a golf scholarship to Florida International University, graduating in 2013 after a successful college career. Since then she has had three wrist surgeries over a frustrating three year period but is now back to full fitness.

She transformed herself into a trick shot sensation last October. Her signature move is the Laybourne trick where the club is flipped over her front shoulder and she catches it before hitting the ball. Her ability to flip clubs and juggle, chip and bounce balls has hugely elevated Tare's profile. She has featured on sports broadcasting giant ESPN, the PGA show as well as Golf Channel and Golf Digest.

Her approach to finding new tricks is "simple enough that people can try it, but hard enough that they can't do it".

She is thrilled to be offered the opportunity to compete on such a big stage in her home country. "I feel really privileged to be offered an exemption into the NZ women's open this year. The pathway to the top for professional golf is a grind and opportunities like this don't come by too often.

"Exemptions can be game changers. And for me, I also like the idea of being part of such a big moment for women's golf in NZ. The LPGA coming to NZ is a huge step in the best direction, bringing the best women's players from around the world. It feels crazy to be considered a part of that selection," she says.